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Show your pride and prepare for Canada Day with our Canada-Themed Displays >>
Sure, the winter holidays might seem like they're ages away now… but once that snowball gets rolling, it doesn't slow down! The clock is already ticking to get your commercial holiday displays planned ahead of time.
With holiday displays popping up earlier and earlier each year (a trend known as 'holiday creep'), early planning means you’re ready to launch your festive experience right when your competitors do (or even get a head start!)
So, let's talk about how getting a jump on this now saves you trouble down the road and sets your team up for success. You can look forward to a smoother process, more creative choices and, ultimately, a commercial holiday display that brings real joy and sparkle to your community, customers, and visitors!
A lot of what we do here at Classic Displays involves custom-made holiday decorations (and we’ll talk about those soon), but most commercial displays involve more than just big, custom pieces. Think holiday lighting and accessories, garlands, site furniture, and banners. These supporting pieces are just as important as the main event for setting the scene and creating that perfect holiday atmosphere and making your space feel complete.
Popular ready-to-go items like these disappear quickly as the holidays get closer. If you wait until fall, you'll likely find a limited selection, making it harder to bring your vision for your display to life.
Start planning your commercial displays now and you’ll avoid that last-minute scramble for what's left. You'll have the best pick of everything you need to design the truly unique and captivating experience you're aiming for. Your patrons will definitely notice the extra care and attention to detail!
Now, custom displays are what really take your holiday display to the next level. We love working with our clients to brainstorm, design, and build unique pieces that transform your venue into a destination – the kind of place that natural draws crowds and positive social media buzz.
What often comes as a surprise is that planning for these custom creations, particularly impressive, jumbo-sized pieces (like this magical Rope Light Dragon or this snowstopping Tim Hortons light display), usually needs to begin more than a year out. The bigger or more intricate the design, the more production lead time is required.
Getting the ball rolling on these one-of-a-kind designs now means there's many opportunities for detailed creative discussions and several rounds of design revisions, all without the stress of a fast-approaching deadline. If the first ideas need adjusting or a complete rethink, there’s plenty of breathing room to get it right without risking delays.
It’s this level of thought and care that goes into creating truly classic holiday displays!
Part of our process here at Classic Displays is a comprehensive on-site evaluation of your space. This process combines creative vision for your space with practical considerations, like taking careful measurements and using an expert eye to spot often-overlooked potential hurdles. For instance, we look closely at:
Ceiling factors: Not just the height, but also load-bearing capacity, existing fixtures (like lights or sprinklers), and any obstructions such as CCTV cameras, HVAC units, or emergency exit signs.
Available floor space: This needs to properly account for customer foot traffic, clear emergency exit paths, and all accessibility requirements.
Power sources: We check the location of your electrical supply and ensure its adequate for the planned display.
Equipment access: It's important to identify any potential issues for bringing in installation equipment, such as lifts or scaffolding, including things like floor load limits or narrow doorways.
These points aren't necessarily deal-breakers; they often just need some smart problem-solving (which, honestly, can be half the fun!). But the real key is addressing any potential snags early in the game, not at the last minute when you're up against a tight deadline.
If your holiday display is going outdoors, you'll likely need to navigate a few extra logistical steps. This can include securing a permit from your local town or city. You’ll also need to plan for electrical tie-ins and may need to adjust your display design to meet public safety and accessibility requirements before any permissions are granted.
While permits are clearly important for everyone's safety and enjoyment, getting one isn't always a quick process. Depending on your location, it can take weeks or even months. So, working out those specifics with your supplier early on means you can get the permit process started sooner, ensuring all logistics are handled in good time.
Beyond permits, there are other logistics. Installing a large commercial holiday display often calls for specialized equipment, like a crane or a lift (cherry-picker). Booking this equipment well in advance is a smart move because it gives you flexibility to schedule installation and takedown at times that cause the least disruption to shoppers and other tenants.
Finding room in the budget for holiday displays often means planning months ahead, usually coinciding with the start of your organization's fiscal year (which, of course, varies and isn't always January 1st). Committing to your holiday display budget early on gives you a leg up.
Early planning gives you ample time to research and gather multiple estimates from various suppliers. This preparation helps you avoid rushed decisions made under pressure, which can easily strain the budget. Last-minute orders and expedited shipping for materials or custom-built pieces are notorious budget-busters.
Pst… Some suppliers and design companies also offer more favourable estimates or early-bird bonuses for contracts confirmed well in advance!
Let’s be honest: Planning a large-scale commercial holiday display that will be seen by thousands does will always come with its share of stress. With so many parts and details to coordinate, challenges are bound to arise.
However, when you finalize your display plans well before the holiday rush, you and your team are much better equipped to handle any bumps in the road. Getting details ironed out now frees your staff to concentrate on other important tasks during that hectic holiday period (a notoriously busy time for any commercial operation!).
In our experience, planning without the intense pressure of looming deadlines also allows creativity to really shine. It gives you breathing room to explore different ideas and creative directions. You won’t be forced to just run with the first concept simply because there’s no time for second-guessing. Instead, you can collaborate with a dedicated creative team to develop an absolutely stunning design that will dazzle your patrons.
Ultimately, this foresight makes for a better holiday season all around – for your patrons, your staff, and you – with a lot less stress and a lot more cheer!
So, to quickly sum up why planning your commercial holiday displays now:
Instead of picking through the leftovers later… You get the absolute widest and best selection of lights, banners, site furniture, and all the other essentials for your display.
While other venues feature the same generic décor from big box stores… You’ll have totally unique, spectacular custom pieces that make your location stand out.
Instead of stressing over that moment when a display arrives and doesn’t quite work… You’ll have complete confidence that your holiday setup is perfectly suited for your venue, with no need for last-minute fixes or compromises.
By the time the holiday hustle and bustle are truly in full swing… You’ll have all your logistics firmly sorted and ready to go.
When it's time for those year-end budget discussions… You won’t find yourself having to explain why the holiday campaign went way over budget.
And at the end of the day, despite the general chaos of the holiday season… Your display planning process will have been smooth and low stress for both you and your team.
So, what are you waiting for? Whether you have a clear vision already or are looking for some guidance to transform, now’s the perfect time to start planning your commercial holiday display!
Our creative team at Classic Displays has the experience to help bring it all to life. We’ve served 350+ municipalities, 150+ BIA groups, and countless commercial properties like yours – and we’re standing by to help you too. Connect with us to start planning today!
‘Tis the season to create an unforgettable Christmas display! But how much should you realistically invest if you're unsure of your return? Classic Displays has some key indicators to help you measure the ROI of your commercial Christmas display, ensuring your festive efforts are as worthwhile as they are dazzling.
Christmas is a time of giving, and it's only natural to want a spectacular display that captures the holiday spirit. However, balancing creativity with financial sense is key. Let’s dive into how you can measure the ROI of your commercial Christmas display and make the most of your investment.
One of the major ways you can measure your ROI for your commercial Christmas display is to track the overall turnout of attendees and compare it to previous years. Then, you can determine what may have been the inspiration behind the increase in turnout by looking at where you invested your time and money.
Here are some clear ways you can track your turnout:
If tickets are required for your Christmas display event, you can compare the number of tickets sold/scanned last year and compare it to this year. However, if your event is free, you can use counters at the entrance to track the overall foot traffic.
Website traffic allows you to analyze the visits to your event's website over both years. You can use tools like Google Analytics to show you how many users have visited and interacted with event pages.
Also, online reservations allow you to compare RSVPs, bookings, or sign-ups across both years if your event utilizes these systems. Otherwise, you can also track the turnout with QR codes on your display to track scans and engagement.
You can track likes, shares, comments, and event RSVPs on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. You can even use unique hashtags to monitor mentions and participation levels!
You can utilize people counters, such as sensors or cameras at the entrances and exits to get an idea of how many attendees came. Or you can use Wi-Fi tracking to measure the number of unique devices present at your event.
A great way to track your turnout is to conduct post-event surveys asking attendees if they also visited the previous year and if they plan to continue to visit in the future. You can further incentivize participation with giveaways or discounts if you choose.
You can coordinate with local businesses and/or sponsors to share their insight on customer traffic, provided they're in proximity to your event.
Request that your staff or volunteers try to estimate crowd density during peak hours and compare it with the metrics from the previous year.
If you're permitted to do so, you can use drones to capture aerial views of the crowd to assess the turnout visually and compare footage year-over-year.
Review local news or media coverage for crowd estimates provided by third-party sources. Don't be afraid to reach out to outlets ahead of time and let them know your event is going to be worth covering!
Perhaps one of the biggest ROIs, other than tangible profit, is seeing where your commercial Christmas events have improved from the previous year. Oftentimes, the more you improve your event each year, the more people will want to attend. To find out how you can improve your Christmas display, there are a few things you should consider:
Reach out to your local community through social media or targeted surveys to see what they’re looking for in a commercial Christmas display. Maybe they want giant
Christmas decorations, maybe they want a more interactive experience, or maybe they want activities that are great for kids and adults alike.
Maybe last year there was no access to hot drinks or snacks, which left your event lackluster for hungry and chilly patrons. You can send out questionnaires with multiple-choice questions or put out a social media post asking for pointed feedback. That way, you can get an idea as you aim to improve if the community at large is enjoying the event.
This isn’t something you need to do right before or after the event either - you can do temperature checks leading up to the season to better prepare yourself for what your attendees are looking for. Checking in early on could help you make some preemptive changes that will help improve your ROI from the previous year.
One of perhaps the clearest indicators that you’ve received a good ROI is if your budget has increased enough that you can propose new elements for your display. We get it - it can feel a little tacky to talk about money. But as you continue to host Christmas events with large commercial displays, your ROI will allow you to continually expand as needed each year, offering bigger and greater visuals.
Say you started with just light displays. Now, this year, you’re able to buy a few bigger ticket items, maybe something like our Mosby Snowman or The Toque. If your budget expands each year and allows you to continue to grow your display, then you know you’re getting a good return on your investment.
This might seem like an odd point, but by making your events more accessible, you’re increasing the ability for people to attend. The more people can attend, the more you’re going to get a bigger ROI.
Accessibility is important because it ensures your events are inclusive, allowing people with physical limitations to attend. While you may be concerned about the cost of accessibility, it’s also essential to keep in mind that you’re opening your event up to a broader list of attendees by making things accessible.
Even if individuals don’t have specific disabilities, having things like park furniture, bins, and bike racks just makes your events more enjoyable. It allows people to sit and enjoy their treats or just have a rest, it allows them to have plenty of places to dispose of waste, and it also allows those who prefer to attend by bike to attend safely.
If you’ve had the ability to make your event more accessible, you can expect that your ROI is going to be bigger in the future.
Classic Displays has an entire array of site furniture you can add to your display to make it more accessible. However, here are some additional accessibility elements you can consider for your next display:
Wheelchair-accessible pathways
Accessible picnic tables
Benches with armrests for support
Sensory-friendly zones
Accessible viewing platforms
Braille signage for display information
Tactile maps of the display area
Rest areas with heaters
Mobility scooter rentals or charging stations
Inclusive play equipment for children
Non-slip mats on pathways
Low-height interactive displays
Wide entrances and exits
Audio description devices for visually impaired visitors
Quiet zones for sensory-sensitive individuals
OK, let’s just get down to brass tax. It’s time to actually discuss the numbers, and by numbers, we mean money. There are a lot of indicators that can help identify a good ROI, but money is what it comes down to.
To get a good idea of your overall ROI, you must break down the following key factors:
The first step is to calculate how much you spent on your display and site furniture. This needs to include everything from the initial design, production, installation, maintenance, and the projected cost of removal. You can use invoices, receipts, or even general estimates if you must, but it’s better to have specific numbers.
Next, you need to calculate the benefits of your display and site furniture. The overall benefit of the collective display is the revenue or profit you expect it to generate. This can be measured by utilizing sales data (perhaps you have a retail display or plan to sell items such as tickets, food, etc.), customer surveys, and other analytical tools. Here are some considerations to keep in mind to measure your ROI:
Sales Volume: Measure the number of units sold or the total revenue generated from your products due to the impact of your display.
Sales Lift: Evaluate the increase in sales that occurs after introducing your display, compared to prior sales or scenarios without it.
Conversion Rate: Track the percentage of customers who purchase your products after engaging with your display.
Customer Retention: Identify how many customers return for repeat purchases after being influenced by your display.
Customer Satisfaction: Assess how your display enhances customer satisfaction with your products and overall shopping experience.
Originally founded in 1977, Classic Displays started as a small operation that designed and produced Christmas holiday displays for local businesses. For the last 46 years, we’ve grown into a multidimensional company that now serves 350+ municipalities, 150+ BIA groups, and other commercial properties. You can trust that we have the knowledge and expertise to help you develop the best commercial Christmas holiday display that’s sure to get you a good ROI.
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